Earlier today, Governor Murphy delivered his final State of the State Address before a joint session of the legislature. The Governor’s address focused on his past eight years as Governor.
Reflecting on the “stronger and fairer” agenda, the Governor highlighted his administration’s accomplishments, including the following:
- Responding to Covid 19 pandemic
- Increasing the minimum wage
- Enacting the millionaire’s tax
- Doubling property tax relief
- Reforming criminal justice system
- Increasing funding for k-12 schools
- Completing election reforms, such as expanding early in-person voting, restoring voting rights to people on probation or parole, establishing automatic voter registration
- Restoring funding for pensions, public transit, women’s healthcare
- Achieving nine consecutive credit rating upgrades
- Establishing New Jersey as a safe haven for reproductive freedom
- Appointing five State Supreme Court justices
- Securing investments in infrastructure such as the Portal North Bridge
- Launching 12 Strategic Innovation Centers
- Growing film and television production industry, with Netflix, Lionsgate, and 1888 Studios, as well as Paramount Skydance’s signing of a long-term lease
- Developing New Jersey’s AI Moonshot
- Enacting laws to mitigate the risk of new tools and technologies
- Increasing State surplus from $409 million to nearly $7 billion
In addition, the Governor’s press release on his final 2026 State of State Address highlighted Governor Murphy’s enactment of “landmark legislation that streamlined the process for ensuring every municipality meets its affordable housing obligations under the Fair Housing Act, accelerating construction of new affordable housing.”
Looking forward, Governor Murphy noted, “With the dawn of 2026, we mark the beginning of one of the most iconic chapters in our state’s history. A chapter in which our New Jersey pride will be on full display, with the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These will be two of the most defining events of the century. Period."
Governor Murphy’s term will end on January 20, when Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill is sworn in as New Jersey’s 57th Governor.